Flare pistol



@et my w44- G. R. sEvERANcE ETAL 33957368 y FLARE PISTOL Filed June 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 00L 10 @44 G. R. sEvERANcE ErAL 2,36%358 FLARE PI STOL Filed June- 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS,

; g WAHM-WHY www ff W i944' G. R. sEvERANcE 'ETAL FLARE PISTOL Filed June 164, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

wat 4 .ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1944 UNITE ES Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 16, 1942? Serial No. 447,292

1 Claim.

This invention relates to pistols and has particular reference to a novel and improved construction of pistol which is particularly adapted, although not limited, for firing are and signal shells.

A principal object of the invention is to provide anew and improved pistol.

Another object of the invention is to provide a .pistol which is constructed and arranged for ring anged type of shells, sometimes referred to as British type of ammunition, and grooved type of shells, sometimes referred to as American ammunition.

Another object of the invention is to pro-vide a single shot pistol with a novel form of shell extractor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for pistols, particularly those adapted for shooting flare, signal, and Ythe like type of ammunition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which there are four sheets and wherein:

Fig, lis a side elevational View of a flare pistol embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged `fragmentary view with parts broken away and others shown in section and illustrating the iiring mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in a plane along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Alooking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the pistol with some parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view similarto Fig. 2 but illustrating the ,parts of the firing mechanism in a dilerent position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating 4the details of the breech lock and safety mechanism;

Fig. '7 is another View similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the ring mechanism just before the hammer is released;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the barrel and its mounting and illustrating the de.- tails ofthe shell extractor;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through a partrof the barrel and the extractor mechanism;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating thevposition of the parts of the extractor and the barrel when the barrelhas beentilted relative to the body of the pistol for opening the breech;

y Fig. 111 is -a fragmentarysectional view similar to Eig. .9 and illustrating the action of the extractorlrlechanism on a British type shell; and Fig. Y 1".2is a view similar to Fig. 10 and illustrating the action of the extractor mechanism on a British type shell vwith the barrel tilted relative to the pistol body and the breech open.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and as disclosed in Eig. l, the `dare pistol includes a barrel 20 having lugs "22 thereon by means of which the pistol may b e mounted if desired in a suitable recoil mechanism lgarovided on aplafne, ship, ror other device in connection with which it is desired to use the flare pistol. A latch mount 24 also may b e provided for latching the pistol against accidental separation from the recoil mounting. The pistol further includes fa body upon which fthe barrel 20 is pivotally mounted, said body being providedwith a handle 2:6 and forming avhous'injg for the firing mechanism which'i's actuated :by the trigger v28. The barrel 2'0 vis held in'position with the breech closed by'a breech lock 30 .as will bemore fully explained hereafter.

Thebarlfel has secured'the'ret'o a hinge mem*- ber ,362 (Fig. 2) r4whichlis vpivoted on a stud pin 3.4

carried by a U-shaped projection 36 at theffofr` ward z.end thereof.' The hing member 32 is reoeived within the bifurcations ofthe projection 36 -(Fig. 5l) and together `with the y.pinfll forms a pivotal mounting for the barrel l2l) which, from the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, is adapted toflswing ina clockwise direction so as to open thenzb'reech. The rear end of the vbarrel when the breech is `closed is positioned next to the breechblock 38 and in such va Wayas to form a closedchamber inv which a ilareor other typezof shell may be red. ,The breech lock 3 0 is piv.. otally mounted on a pin 40 aiilx'ed to the barrel and is provided with shoulders `llon each lsilole thereofv which are adapted .to yengage the rear sideof the 'breechbmck 3s on opposite sidesof an .upwardly'opening slot. formed on therim of the breechblock 38, that pari; of the f'breechlock 30 which passes .through the slot Vlill 'being reducedincross-section so as to form'fthe slfioiil'- ders 4 2. As illustrated in f6, the breech "lock 30 maybe released by'prressing upwardly on the endthereof so as Nto disengagethe shouldersz from the breechlock 378. As soon las,` the breech lock isreleasedthe barrel may be tilted orv )swung aboutus pivot 3 4 .S0 .as @expose the-.rearien'd of the barrel in order to place a shellftherein or remoye a shell therefrom, as lwill be explained more fullrhereafterl Y'Ifl'ie body of the pistol is formed of a frame caste `Aspring Vthe flange 64 vof the iiring pin and -a seat 68 formed internally of the bushing and is adapted t'hecover plates 54.

ing 46, the outside contour of which defines the shape of the pistol except for the barrel 20 and the trigger guard 48. The frame casting is hollow andY formed toprovide the U-shaped forwardly extending projection 36, the breechblock 38, and the handle 26, the sides of which are covered by oppostely disposed grips 50 removably secured to the frame 46 by a bolt and nut assembly 52 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Above Ythe f handle grips 58 the sides of the frame casting 46 accedas are covered by cover plates 54 which are suitably secured to the frame casting 46 and cooperate therewith to define a chamber'or enclosure for housing the firing mechanism. The .extractor mechanism is arranged forwardly ofthe trigger 23 and is concealed by forwardly projecting portrates the relative position of the parts of Vthe ring mechanism just before the pawl 96 is disengaged from the end |04 of the hammer. V".ll'he pawl 66 is provided with an arm |06which upon y the hammer 14 retracted suciently, the pawl 96 will disengage itself from the end of the hammer,

fthereby permitting the spring 18 to act on the tions 56 of the cover plates 54 and which portionsV Y 56 also conceal the U-shaped projection36 of the frame casting 46. y

A ring pin bushing 53 is secured in an opening in the breechblock 38 coincident-with the axis of the barrel and is retained in placeby a retainer 60 arranged in a suitable recess inthe forward face of the breechblock 38. The hole in the retainer 60 and the end of the bushing 58 are threaded for cooperation together in order to secure'tne bushing 58 in position. The end of the bushing at the rear of the block 38 is enlarged and seats around the opening in the block. The bushing 58 forms a guide for and carries the firing pin 62, a part of which is enlarged to formV a radial rflange 64 which slides in the bushing 58. 66 is conned in the bushing between normally to position the firing pin so that the end thereof does not project beyond the forward face of the bushing 58 or block 378.V A pin 10' carried strike the'ring pin 62.

hammer 14 and cause it to strike the head 12 of L the ring pin, which in turn is adapted to strike the detonator of the shell positioned within the barrel 20. Y right of the end |04 of the hammer, the spring 18 will move it as previously described in order to When the trigger 28 is released the spring 82 acting through the slide 84 will return thetrigger to its normal position and the spring |80 will allow the end |04 of the hammer to depress the endY |02 of the pawl 96 so as to Y permit the pawl 96 to` be returned to itsnormal position.

A trigger guard 48 may be suitably secured to the frame of Ythe pistol in order Ytoprotect the trigger 28 thereof. After the shell in the barrel 20 has been fired, the breech mustbe opened,

which, as previously explained, is accomplished by raising thebreech lock in order to separate the shoulders'42 from the rim of the breechblock 38. The breech lock V30 Yacts on a safety lever I2, pivoted at |4, when the barrel is closed and -holds the end H6 out of engagement with the Y hammer, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and 6. Howbythe rearrend of the bushing 58 projects into l the opening therein and engages the flange 64 for limiting'the rearward movement of the ring pin.

The rear end of the ring pin is provided with a head 12 which` is adaptedk to be struck by a hammer pivoted at 16 on a cross pin carried by The hammer 14 normally is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2 by a spring 18 carriedby a cross pin 80, which in turn is carried by the cover plates 54 and by `arm '94 as herein- Y after explained. J

YThe trigger 28 is pivoted atg82 to a cross pin carried by the U-shaped projection 36. One end of Vatrigger slide 84 is pivotallyY connected'at 8S to one end of the' trigger so as to be movedthereby, Hthe' other end of the slide being mounted and guided by inwardly extending guides 88 formed integrally with cover plate liners 90 arranged betweeneach of the cover plates 54 and the frame casting 46. A spring 92 suitably mounted in the handle 26 engages one end of the slide 84 for biasing the same into the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this figure note that the slide is `provided'with an arm 94 which engagesv the hammer 14 above the pivot 16 for holding the upwardly so as to engage the lower end |04 of the hammer upon'movement of the slide 84 when the trigger 28 `is pulled backwardly by the finger of an operator. Y 'j Y Fig.5 illustrates the relative position of the parts of the firing mechanism when the triggerhas been partially pulled back, and Fig. 7 illusever, when the breech lock 30 is released, it is separated from the-upper endrof the lever ||2 and thereby permits a spring ||8 acting on the lever ||2 to force the end I|6thereof down into the path of movement of :thehammer 14, thereby locking thesame against retraction and providing a safety for the pistol when the breech is open. Y

After the barrel is closed and the .breech lock 30. returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the safety lever ||2'wi1l be moved out of the path of movement of the hammer 14. When the breech-lock 30 is released, the barrelV 20 may be swungY in a clockwise direction about the pivot 34 so as to remove the spent shell therefromV and to insert a new shell. 1f thebarrel 20 is mounted in a recoil mount, the barrel 20 may remain stationary andthe body of the pistol' swing in a.

y counterclockwise direction about the pivot.34. In

either event, this relative movement between the barrel 20 vand the body of the pistol will operate the extractor, the construction and operationof which is hereafter described. Y

. Asl illustrated more clearly in'Figs. 4, 8,V 9, and 10, the nextractor Vcomprisesv ya slide |20V of *U- shaped cross section' straddling the projection 36 of the frame casting 46 as illustrated in Fig.' 4, the projection 36 being grooved at its' sides so as to provide slots between'the projection V36 and the forward portions 56 vofs'the cover platesv54 Vfor accommodating-'the bifurcations ofthe slide |20.l The rear end of the barrel -20 on the Vunder side-thereof is notched as indicated at |22 to accommodate a setoff or projectionY |24 formed integrally with thelslidevl20, the projection |24 including an upwardly extendingrflnger or mem- 'ber v|26 which as illustratedy in Figs. 9 and 10 is u adapted toY project into the Yannular groove |28 Yof a she11-|3n of the American or groovedtype.

As soon as the pawl 96 passes to the Y In Figs. 9 and 10 such a shell is illustrated in connection with the barrel and extractor mechanism in order to indicate the action thereof. The slide |20 at its forward end is provided with a pin |32 projecting laterally therefrom and which pin |32 projects into suitable holes formed in the projection 36 and the parts 56 of the cover plates 54. The pin |32 is free to turn in such holes but is confined against movement relative to the pivot 34. A spring |34 secured to the pin |32 and passing between another pin |36 carried by hinge member 32 and the upper part of the hinge member 32 is adapted to act on the projection |24 and linger 26 of the extractor so as to urge the same upwardly through the slot |22 in the wall of the barrel This is possible due to the pivotal mounting for slide |20 provided by pin |32. Without any shell in the barrel 26 the projection |24 and nger |26 normally would be positioned by spring |34 in the position illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, in which position the finger |26 projects inwardly into the bore of barrel 20. In Figs. 2, 4, 5, '7, 11 and 12, the projection |24 and finger |26 are illustrated in approximately the position such parts assume when a British type of shell is in barrel 20.

The hinge member 32 is cut away to form a slot |38 so thatY the hinge member 32 and barrel 20 may swing a limited amount relative to the pivot 34 without interference from the pin |32. As the pin forming the pivot 34 and the pin |32 are both carried by the same parts, namely the forward projection 36 of the frame casting, it is evident that when the barrel 20 is swung in a clockwise direction about the pivot 34 relative to the body of the pistol or vice versa, the nnger |26 of the extractor will move rearwardly relative to the barrel 20 and in the case of Fig. 10 will move the American or grooved type shell |30 backwardly in the barrel and to a relative position as illustrated in Fig. 10. In this position the shell |30 may be grasped and removed from the barrel and another shell placed therein. Upon relative movement of the barrel 20 and the body of the pistol in a direction opposite to the foregoing, or so as to close the breech, the extractor slide |20 will be returned to a position relative to the barrel 20 as illustrated in Fig. 9.

In Figs, 11 and 12 the action of the extractor in connection with the British or flanged type of shell is illustrated. Fig. 11 is a view comparable to Fig. 9 and illustrates a British type of shell |40. It will be noted that the rear inside edge of the barrel 20 is beveled olf as indcated at |42 in order to accommodate the ange |44 of the shell. The finger |26 of the extractor in this case will engage the flange |44 and when the breech is opened will move the shell relative to the barrel to a position as indicated in Fig. 12. When a anged type shell |40 is inserted in the barrel 20, the linger |26 will be moved,

against tension of spring |34, outside of the boreof barrel 20.

Aside from the main casting 46 and the handle grips 50, most of the parts of the pistol herein disclosed are formed out of sheet metal, the barrel 20 being formed out of a piece of tubing while the other parts may be formed of sheet metal stampings. The pistol herein disclosed is adapted to shoot a shell having a diameter of approximately 11@ inches and a length of approximately 4 inches, and due to the extensive use of stampings in the assembly, the over-all weight of the pistol is not in excess of 21/2 pounds.

While the. invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claim.

We claim:

In a breech loading type of pistol having a frame with a breech block thereon and a hollow projection extending forwardly of said breech block, a barrel having a hinge member aflixecl to the underside thereof, said hinge member being disposed in said hollow projection and having a pivotal connection therewith so as to permit relative pivotal movement between said barrel and said breech block in order to open the breech, an extractor member straddling said projection and having a pivotal connection therewith but offset from the aforesaid pivotal connection, said barrel having a slot in the breech end thereof, said extractor member being provided with a nger adapted to' extend into the lbore of said barrel through said slot but in spaced relationship with the breech end of the barrel when the vbreech is closed, and resilient means biasing said finger into the bore of said barrel, said finger during opening of the breech being cooperable with a shell arranged in said barrel for at least partially extracting said shell from said barrel through the breech end thereof', said pivotal connection between said extractor member and said projection being provided by a pin which extends through a slot formed in said hinge member between said barrel and the pivotal connection between said hinge member and said projection, Said resilient means comprising a leaf spring anchored at one end to said pin and extending through said hinge member, the other end of said spring bearing against said extractor member at the nger end thereof.

GLEN R. SEVERANCE. FREDERICK K. COMISKEY. HILTEN E. JONES. 

